Holy Saturday, 2012
Here it is… the culmination of our Lenten journey… we have been aiming toward this night for forty days…
We begin in darkness. The new fire is lit and the Easter Candle, sign of Christ the Light is blessed… all share the light, holding candles… in the Exsultet , sung when the community gathers around the Easter Candle, we hear the phrase “This is the night” repeated over and over again. And this IS the night. It is the night of vigil… it is the night in which we gather around the fire to hear the stories of our ancestors in the faith retold to us year after year, just as families repeat stories of their heritage to initiate new family members. It is the night when we welcome those seeking full communion with us and those among us who will be baptized. It is the night when all of us renew our Baptismal promises as a sign of solidarity with our newest members and a pledge to live this Christian life with new purpose and vigor and commitment. It is the night when we welcome back to our lips and our voices, the “Alleluia,” and the Gloria, absent from our assembly throughout Lent. It is the night of nights for the Christian. Don’t miss it. Join a community to celebrate.
And continue the celebration for the full fifty days. Often people discontinue their Lenten efforts at prayer and special acts of charity when Easter comes. But in her wisdom, Mother Church offers us forty days of Lenten fasting and FIFTY days of Easter feasting. Ponder that ratio… St. Augustine said: “We are Easter People and Alleluia is our song.” Happy Easter.
Carolyn Puccio, CSJ
